Triks-C First Experiences

[rlilly]

I finally got around to building the two boards for my Ledtriks panel, got them tested and installed.

I'm now playing around with Tim's LTC program to get familiar.

I've noticed a few things that maybe Tim or others can comment on.

1) Rotate only works on one panel. In a two panel configuration, both panels rotate separate from one another. (see 1st video)
2) If you roll down, then back up, the text that was off the screen is lost. (1st video)
3) When scrolling text, the initial speed is slower when on the 1st panel, speeds up when the text is on two panels, then slows again after scrolling off the first panel. (2nd video)
4) The last column of a panel retains "on" the LEDs that were last on. (2nd video)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/th_P3270014.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/?action=view&current=P3270014.flv)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/th_P3270009.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/?action=view&current=P3270009.flv)

[TimW]

Hi Bob

Thanks for the post - here's what I think is happening. Does it agree with what you're seeing?



1) Rotate only works on one panel. In a two panel configuration, both panels rotate separate from one another. (see 1st video)


Yep.. I haven't scaled the rotate code yet (If LTC was told the panel configuration I could make it spin of 1-4 panels (its the next level of complexity - just haven't implemented yet).Stay tuned.



2) If you roll down, then back up, the text that was off the screen is lost. (1st video)


'Scrolling and Rolling' commands are designed to give the maximum speed over the serial port (they only transmit the new 'edge') to the Triks-C.
So to scroll up you need to send a set of frames with (at least) the edge you are scrolling up. LTC doesn't remember anything that has gone outside the panel boundaries.




3) When scrolling text, the initial speed is slower when on the 1st panel, speeds up when the text is on two panels, then slows again after scrolling off the first panel. (2nd video)


Now this one is interesting (and a bit counter intuative!) Are you using roll commands or frame (#frm) commands to send the data? Definitely a bug.



4) The last column of a panel retains "on" the LEDs that were last on. (2nd video)


Yep - code trying to be too smart I think! If the next frame has nothing for a panel nothing is transmitted. so the last non empty frame keeps displayed. I need to think about that some more. It can be fixed in the code. (ie if panel 2 or 4 are empty and its a #RL then roll in a blank column)

All of the thing's you're describing seem to be LTC related at least (so its not the hardware/firmware... ). I hope eventually Vixen will support Triks-C directly. Meantime I'll have a look at the LTC code and see if I can address some of these 'features' !

Tim


http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/th_P3270014.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/?action=view&current=P3270014.flv)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/th_P3270009.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii102/rlilly4/Triks-C/?action=view&current=P3270009.flv)[/quote]

[rlilly]

Now this one is interesting (and a bit counter intuative!) Are you using roll commands or frame (#frm) commands to send the data?

The scrolling text video was done with these commands:

ltc
#cls
LTTlights.led
#frm
#cls
#loop

[TimW]

See if this works better. (LTC0_9)

Tim

[rlilly]

Tim,

You DA MAN!

All problems solved!!

Thanks! (Sorry to have taken up your weekend!)

[TimW]

LOL Bob... I thought this is what weekends are for! (actually in my case code writing is usually late at night... after kids in bed). Come to think of it that may explain one or two things.....!

Glad its working - let me know if you find anything else.


Tim